Government Welfare Reform -The Impact Upon Wolverhampton.

I thought that residents of the City would be interested in the comments of Simon Warren Chief Executive of Wolverhampton City Council.Mr Warren was addressing his staff at the City Council.

This is what he says is likely to happen following the reform being implemented. Simon Warren "Over 100,000 people – almost 43% of the city’s current population – will be affected in some way, whether they’re receiving out-of-
work benefits, Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit. Some households may see a reduction in their annual benefits income of £4,000 a year.

It doesn’t take much imagination to see what implications this might have for the city as a whole, not just claimants and their families.

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau estimates that between £70 million and £120 million will be lost to the local economy by 2017. Retrenchment in the retail, food and entertainment sectors could increase unemployment, particularly among younger people where joblessness is already high. Homelessness may increase and – as in America – entire families may ‘slip through the net’."

This paints a real worrying picture for the City and its residents. Not just those that have to rely on welfare, but the impact of the loss of that Government support from the Cities overall economic base. Some very worrying times for individuals and business is looming for Wednesfield North and Wolverhampton.